Working together to understand , bring awareness and help to those victims of Earth’s Natural Dynamic of Change and Cleansing in her eternal voyage though the galaxy and prepare ourselves for the coming events…

Many locals fled to higher ground as strong winds blew over coconut trees along shorelines.

Songrit Thanawattana, chairman of the Laem Talum Phuk tambon administration organisation (TAO), said the local power authority had cut off electricity for safety reasons, while water supplies were also cut in some areas because of damaged pipes.

Some residents moved away to stay with relatives in other areas after sea water surged into their homes.

TAO officials have not been able to get to the two villages due to rising water and strong waves, said Mr Songrit.

Meanwhile, locals wanting to move to a new settlement set aside by the previous government for people whose homes are vulnerable to natural disasters have had their hopes dashed.

Residents of Songkhla’s Saba Yoi district, worst-hit by flooding in the province, paddle boats along aflooded road to their houses in tambon Saba Yoi. Vast areasof thelower South have been battered bypersistent heavy rain over the past few days. WICHAYANTBOONCHOTE

Accommodation at the settlement, covering around 150 rai, is not yet ready and people will not be allowed to move in until the houses are fit for use.

In Yala, days of heavy rain have caused the Pattani and Sai Buri rivers passing through the southern province to overflow and flood many areas in Muang and Raman districts. Rubber and fruit tree plantations were also inundated. Local residents and rescue workers were yesterday searching for the body of Abdulbazis Tuanhayee, 18, who was swept away in tambon Sateng Nok in Muang district on Wednesday.

The flooding has also claimed the life of Mayading Salaeming, 70, a native of Muang Yala district.

A local weather office yesterday warned residents living along the Sai Buri River in Raman district to brace for flash floods and runoff.

In Songkhla, strong waves in the Gulf of Thailand forced residents living near the coast in Muang district to evacuate to safer ground.

Chamnong Sriraksa, whose house was swept away by waves of up to 3m, said her family has lived in the area for more than 10 years and has never seen such waves before.

In Narathiwat, three days of heavy downpours caused severe flooding in Tak Bai, Sungai Kolok and Waeng districts, affecting over 1,000 families.

Floodwater reached between 1.8m and 2m high, with Hua Saphan community in Sungai Kolok municipality being the worst hit.

In Phatthalung, floodwater in several areas of Tamot, Kong Ra and Si Banphot districts started to subside yesterday.

However, residents living in communities near Songkhla Lake in Muang, Khuan Khanun, Bang Kaew and Pak Phayun districts remained flooded.

In Trang, flood-hit residents from 60 households in tambon Nayong Tai in Muang district took refuge at a makeshift shelter after their houses were submerged under 80cm of floodwater.

The water level kept rising, sparking fears among locals, they said.

The Meteorological Department yesterday warned people living along the southern east-coast of high waves today.

The "rather strong" northeast monsoon over the South and the Gulf of Thailand will cause thundershowers and heavy rainfall along the southeast coast from Surat Thani southwards, the department said.

Angry protests over prolonged flooding spread throughout greater Bangkok yesterday as authorities tried to keep up with the flood management plan.

Residents in Bang Kae, Thawi Watthana and Taling Chan districts block part of the outbound Kanchanaphisek Road, demanding information about flood management plans after flood gates in three small canals on the Thon Buri side were opened to 1m before the agreed time and the water level in their communities rose by another 10-15cm. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD

The disputes between authorities and flooded residents continued with the latest threat coming from people in Ram Intra area who threatened to close Ram Intra Road.

They are concerned the dismantling of the flood barrier at Kor Por Or intersection on Phahon Yothin Road will raise the floodwaters around their homes.

National Disaster Warning Centre director Somsak Khaosuwan said officials will need to do more to protect the barriers to ensure the drainage goes as planned.

"Removing the flood walls can't ease the flood situation," Capt Somsak said. "On the contrary, it takes longer to drain the flood because the water spreads.

"If the floodwater is contained, we can deploy water pumps and drain the water more efficiently."

He said that it was vital to make sure flood-affected communities understand the way the water is managed.

His comment came as a community in Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka, led by former finance minister Surapong Suebwonglee, is preparing to petition the Flood Relief Operation Command (Froc) to remove the flood barrier on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

Dr Surapong said his community members were working on the petition and that he will present it to the Froc when it is finalised. Dr Surapong's Siwali estate has been under chest-level water for about a month.

The floodwater on Phahon Yothin Road yesterday rose by 22 centimetres from 32cm after the removal of the flood barrier.

However, residents in Sai Mai and Saphan Mai said the water did not increase but the speed of the runoff increased.

On Wednesday former House speaker Arthit Ourairat, also rector of Rangsit University located in the heavily flooded Muang Ake housing estate, suggested blocking Vibhavadi Road and Don Muang tollway.

Dr Arthit yesterday criticised the Froc for its inaction after the floodways were blocked by communities encroaching on them.

"Froc should have exercised its power and ordered the encroachers to move. They don't seem to know how to do it," he said.

He also said he was not sure if Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi who was sent by the Froc to negotiate with him had the decision-making power.

Protests against the government's flood management intensified in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani this week.

On Wednesday a number of flood-affected residents in Rangsit and Lam Luk Ka areas blocked part of Din Daeng-Don Muang tollway to pressure the Froc to speed up drainage.

They wanted to know what the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) planned to do after it raised sluice gates at Khlong Khun Sri Burirak, Khlong Kwai and Khlong Soi to drain the flood and ease Nonthaburi residents' hardship.

"We are willing to ease the hardship of people in Nonthaburi," said Rueng Muangchum, a resident. "We just want to know what the BMA's drainage plan is, how they will drain the water and how long the flood will stay.

According to the BMA's plan, the water will be drained into Khlong Bang Ramat and then be diverted to Khlong Chak Phra and to Khlong Bangkok Yai.

The BMA has promised to monitor the situation closely in the next 48 hours.

Residents of a community near Khlong Khun Sri Burirak said the water was strong and rose by 3cm to 4cm after the widening of the sluice gates.

Nonthaburi governor Wichian Phutthiwinyu said the water level in Bang Kruai district decreased by 15cm following the opening of the sluice gates and water pumping.

The floodwater in the province receded by 3cm to 5cm overall, he said.

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"Thaksin thinks, Puea Thai acts"

Bang Khae residents block expressway

The Nation November 25, 2011 2:01 am

Demand explanation of sluice gate opening from FROC; traffic backs up on both sides of Outer Ring Road

Bang Khae residents yesterday blocked a section of the Western Outer Ring Road to demand an explanation from the government of its "unfair" floodprevention measures.

The protest, starting in the afternoon and running into late evening, caused traffic to back up for many kilometres on both north and southbound lanes.

The group refused to disperse or open a few lanes for traffic at the request of police until representatives of the government's Flood Relief Operations Centre met them on site for direct talks, but no one showed up.

Angry motorists were kept away from the demonstrators to prevent brawling after a blockade of a tollway in northern Bangkok on Wednesday ended up in a clash that resulted in injuries and damaged cars.

The group insisted on learning the details of several measures including the opening of three sluice gates on Maha Sawat Canal, as demanded by Nonthaburi residents. The group said the move could cause their district, located south of Nonthaburi, to be inundated.

Residents in Pathum Thani's Rangsit area demolished a section of a sandbag fence intended to facilitate the drying of Rangsit Market.

Around 100 people living in the Rattanakosin Bicentennial estate began their protest at 10.30am and started dismantling the sandbags after local and Irrigation Department officials failed to make a 30minute deadline to meet them.

Protest leaders said the 500rai estate has been under chesthigh putrid flood waters for five weeks without any explanations or viable measures in place, and would now face more problems with the sandbag wall, which they did not want and had torn down.

Deputy mayor Decha Klinkusum, who was not at the scene, said the protestors had sabotaged the wall without understanding the situation and he would meet with some of them later.

The temporary measure was needed to prevent flood waters from entering the market before drainage could begin and an earthen fence could be built around the market.

Another group of residents in the Rangsit area threatened to obstruct traffic on the tollway tomorrow if no FROC officials were present by today to explain floodprevention measures for the Ban Fa Lagoon estate, where they live.

Besides blocking the elevated tollway in front of Future Park Rangsit mall, the group also vowed to demolish whatever sandbag walls and big bag barriers they saw fit and thought were causing the monthlong inundation of their estate.

Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen, the new deputy police chief, called on all protestors to use only lawful and nonviolent means in their rallies or protests, or else police would have no choice but to deal with their crimes when they arose.

After the fight between drivers and protesters on Wednesday during a tollway blockade near the Zeer Rangsit mall, police fined the motorist who drove through the crowd.

A man who smashed the motorist's windshield agreed to pay him Bt2,700 for the damage and both sides agreed not to take further action against each other, Pongsapat said.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said her statement asking the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to work with the government and other agencies to implement floodprevention measures "as a whole" did not mean she wanted Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra to solve the problem across the country.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said during a House session on flood prevention that it was difficult to deal with the problem in the capital, because the flood would move on to a new area after it was drained from other areas.

Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit pledged to do whatever it took to ensure that people could resume their normal way of life before December 5, "even though flood waters have not completely gone away". He did not elaborate.

Demand explanation of sluice gate opening from FROC; traffic backs up on both sides of Outer Ring Road

Bang Khae residents yesterday blocked a section of the Western Outer Ring Road to demand an explanation from the government of its "unfair" floodprevention measures.

The protest, starting in the afternoon and running into late evening, caused traffic to back up for many kilometres on both north and southbound lanes.

The group refused to disperse or open a few lanes for traffic at the request of police until representatives of the government's Flood Relief Operations Centre met them on site for direct talks, but no one showed up.

Angry motorists were kept away from the demonstrators to prevent brawling after a blockade of a tollway in northern Bangkok on Wednesday ended up in a clash that resulted in injuries and damaged cars.

The group insisted on learning the details of several measures including the opening of three sluice gates on Maha Sawat Canal, as demanded by Nonthaburi residents. The group said the move could cause their district, located south of Nonthaburi, to be inundated.

Residents in Pathum Thani's Rangsit area demolished a section of a sandbag fence intended to facilitate the drying of Rangsit Market.

Around 100 people living in the Rattanakosin Bicentennial estate began their protest at 10.30am and started dismantling the sandbags after local and Irrigation Department officials failed to make a 30minute deadline to meet them.

Protest leaders said the 500rai estate has been under chesthigh putrid flood waters for five weeks without any explanations or viable measures in place, and would now face more problems with the sandbag wall, which they did not want and had torn down.

Deputy mayor Decha Klinkusum, who was not at the scene, said the protestors had sabotaged the wall without understanding the situation and he would meet with some of them later.

The temporary measure was needed to prevent flood waters from entering the market before drainage could begin and an earthen fence could be built around the market.

Another group of residents in the Rangsit area threatened to obstruct traffic on the tollway tomorrow if no FROC officials were present by today to explain floodprevention measures for the Ban Fa Lagoon estate, where they live.

Besides blocking the elevated tollway in front of Future Park Rangsit mall, the group also vowed to demolish whatever sandbag walls and big bag barriers they saw fit and thought were causing the monthlong inundation of their estate.

Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen, the new deputy police chief, called on all protestors to use only lawful and nonviolent means in their rallies or protests, or else police would have no choice but to deal with their crimes when they arose.

After the fight between drivers and protesters on Wednesday during a tollway blockade near the Zeer Rangsit mall, police fined the motorist who drove through the crowd.

A man who smashed the motorist's windshield agreed to pay him Bt2,700 for the damage and both sides agreed not to take further action against each other, Pongsapat said.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said her statement asking the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to work with the government and other agencies to implement floodprevention measures "as a whole" did not mean she wanted Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra to solve the problem across the country.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said during a House session on flood prevention that it was difficult to deal with the problem in the capital, because the flood would move on to a new area after it was drained from other areas.

Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit pledged to do whatever it took to ensure that people could resume their normal way of life before December 5, "even though flood waters have not completely gone away". He did not elaborate.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has postponed the reopening of schools in seven heavily flooded areas from December 6 to December 13.

BMA deputy governor Thaya Theepasuwan said the reopening date for schools in Sai Mai, Don Muang, Thawee Watthana, Nong Khaem, Bang Khae, Lak Si and Bang Bon districts had been delayed, but that they would prepare special classes to help students catch up.

Special classes for the primary level will be held every weekday from 2.30pm to 3.30pm and on the weekends from 8.30am to 2.30pm for 12 weeks. Students at the secondary level will be given special tutorials from 3.30pm to 4.30pm every day in addition to a sevenhour class on Saturday and a fivehour class on Sunday. Schools in the other 43 districts, which will open on December 6, will also hold special classes for students to catch up.

The Nation November 25, 2011 2:00 am
The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) announced yesterday that water services in the east of Bangkok would be suspended from 11pm today to 4am tomorrow.

MWA will be turning off the pumps at its Samrong station and water will not be available in buildings on Sukhumvit Road from Bang Na intersection to Bang Pu, from the Samrong pump station to Chaophu Samingprai intersection, Soi Lasalle, the old railway road, Thai Ban Road, Sai Luad Road, Theparak Road, Srinakarin Road to Bang NaTrat Intersection, Suan Som Road, Suksawat Road from Khlong Bang Chak to the Phra Chulachomklao Fort. Call 1125 for more information.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said officials will have to let more water into Bangkok to appease residents from flooded districts who have held daily protests against measures to protect the inner city.

“Residents in flooded areas are suffering,” Yingluck told reporters today at Government House. “I’d like to ask for cooperation from people in Bangkok to let some water flow into the area to ease the burden.”

Polluted water more than a meter (3.3 feet) deep is still inundating thousands of homes in northern and western areas of the city. Officials are maintaining a network of canals, dikes and sandbags to keep water out of inner Bangkok, sparking clashes with residents living outside the flood defenses.

Hundreds of people in Pathum Thani province north of the capital today blocked cars from using the outbound lane of an elevated highway to pressure the government to accelerate the drainage of water, the Thai PBS television network reported.

The protesters threatened to block both lanes of the major highway if their demands aren’t met, the report said.

“This is a challenging task for the negotiation team as people in areas that are now dry don’t want to be flooded again, and those who have been inundated are still suffering,” Yingluck said. “Areas that are dry should allow some water to flow into drainage systems or to empty into the sea.”

Protecting Bangkok

Floods caused by above-average rainfall and water released from dams in Thailand’s north have spread across 64 of the nation’s 77 provinces in recent months, claiming 610 lives and swamping the homes of 13.4 million people, according to the government. Seventeen provinces are still affected.

Authorities have tried to protect Bangkok by diverting the slow-moving pool of water around the city, which sits at the southern tip of a river basin that empties into the Gulf of Thailand.

Authorities agreed today to open three floodgates on the Mahasawas canal in western Bangkok after protests by local residents, said Pracha Promnog, who heads the government’s flood-relief operations.

Protests will continue “if there is more flooding,” Pracha said. “It’s difficult both for people who live north and south of the barriers. The most important thing is to drain water before the sea level peaks again on November 25.”

‘Severe’ Impact

Water that swamped seven industrial estates north of the capital has receded, and companies are expected to resume production over the next two months, the industry ministry said yesterday in a report submitted to Thailand’s Cabinet.

The disaster has had a “severe and broad-based impact” on the economy, central bank Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul said today, adding that gross domestic product will contract in the fourth quarter and the forecast for full-year growth will be “significantly” cut from an estimate of 2.6 percent.

“We will need to monitor inflation because post-flood spending and government measures may also add pressure to inflation,” he said.

Bank of Thailand policy makers are scheduled to meet on Nov. 30 to discuss monetary policy, and have signaled there is room to cut rates to prop up growth.

“On one side, the floods will hurt the economy, especially in the fourth quarter,” Prasarn said. “It will also affect confidence. This will require easing. On the other side, inflation pressure may rise in the medium term. So we will need to consider the appropriate move to maintain confidence and make sure inflation won’t return to be a problem.”

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said officials will have to let more water into Bangkok to appease residents from flooded districts who have held daily protests against measures to protect the inner city.

“Residents in flooded areas are suffering,” Yingluck told reporters today at Government House. “I’d like to ask for cooperation from people in Bangkok to let some water flow into the area to ease the burden.”

Polluted water more than a meter (3.3 feet) deep is still inundating thousands of homes in northern and western areas of the city. Officials are maintaining a network of canals, dikes and sandbags to keep water out of inner Bangkok, sparking clashes with residents living outside the flood defenses.

Hundreds of people in Pathum Thani province north of the capital today blocked cars from using the outbound lane of an elevated highway to pressure the government to accelerate the drainage of water, the Thai PBS television network reported.

The protesters threatened to block both lanes of the major highway if their demands aren’t met, the report said.

“This is a challenging task for the negotiation team as people in areas that are now dry don’t want to be flooded again, and those who have been inundated are still suffering,” Yingluck said. “Areas that are dry should allow some water to flow into drainage systems or to empty into the sea.”

Protecting Bangkok

Floods caused by above-average rainfall and water released from dams in Thailand’s north have spread across 64 of the nation’s 77 provinces in recent months, claiming 610 lives and swamping the homes of 13.4 million people, according to the government. Seventeen provinces are still affected.

Authorities have tried to protect Bangkok by diverting the slow-moving pool of water around the city, which sits at the southern tip of a river basin that empties into the Gulf of Thailand.

Authorities agreed today to open three floodgates on the Mahasawas canal in western Bangkok after protests by local residents, said Pracha Promnog, who heads the government’s flood-relief operations.

Protests will continue “if there is more flooding,” Pracha said. “It’s difficult both for people who live north and south of the barriers. The most important thing is to drain water before the sea level peaks again on November 25.”

‘Severe’ Impact

Water that swamped seven industrial estates north of the capital has receded, and companies are expected to resume production over the next two months, the industry ministry said yesterday in a report submitted to Thailand’s Cabinet.

The disaster has had a “severe and broad-based impact” on the economy, central bank Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul said today, adding that gross domestic product will contract in the fourth quarter and the forecast for full-year growth will be “significantly” cut from an estimate of 2.6 percent.

“We will need to monitor inflation because post-flood spending and government measures may also add pressure to inflation,” he said.

Bank of Thailand policy makers are scheduled to meet on Nov. 30 to discuss monetary policy, and have signaled there is room to cut rates to prop up growth.

“On one side, the floods will hurt the economy, especially in the fourth quarter,” Prasarn said. “It will also affect confidence. This will require easing. On the other side, inflation pressure may rise in the medium term. So we will need to consider the appropriate move to maintain confidence and make sure inflation won’t return to be a problem.”

AT LEAST THREE people have died after heavy rain in southern Italy caused flash flooding and mudslides.

The dead include a 10-year-old boy who was killed in a mudslide near Messina, Sicily as his family were attempting to flee their home.

Two other bodies found today are those of a father and son, aged 55 and 25. It is understood they died when a landslide destroyed houses in Saponara near Messina.

La Repubblica reports that the mayor of Messina ordered the closure of all schools today in response to the crisis, while the mayor of nearby Barellona urged residents to stay in their homes, according to Corriere Della Sera. Fifty housesholds in the Migliardo Gala area have been trapped in their homes by the mud.

The muddy floodwater has also caused serious damage to bridges, roads and railways in the area. Meanwhile, 100 soldiers have been deployed to help residents in the southern Italian region of Calabria cope with the deluge.

Two years ago, severe mudslides in Messina killed 37 people.

The recent flooding has been blamed on the failure to clean storm drains and on excessive building in the affected areas.

Footage of the flooding and its aftermath today shows cars being pulled along and left half-buried beneath mounds of mud:

An island sanctuary amid the deluge in AyutthayaUnlike the many swamped historic sites and ancient temples in heavily flooded Ayutthaya province, Wat Phanan Choeng Worawiharn has stood majestically free of the inundation, thanks to the temple..
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About Me

Prof. Muse Tegegne has lectured sociology Change & Liberation in Europe, Africa and Americas. He has obtained Doctorat es Science from the University of Geneva. A PhD in Developmental Studies & ND in Natural Therapies. He wrote on the problematic of the Horn of Africa extensively. He Speaks Amharic, Tigergna, Hebrew, English, French. He has a good comprehension of Arabic, Spanish and Italian.